Deon Pretorius: Peninsula Friends Cape Town

This is my friend, Deon Pretorius. He is a 49 year old homeless man, from Cape Town, South Africa and is looking for a solid and meaningful way to change his circumstances. 

Deon is a highly educated and experienced scientist. He holds a degree and Postgraduate Certificates in Human Genetics and has many years of work experience in a professional setting. 

After some intense difficulties in his personal life, Deon made some poor choices and addiction left him without his job, home and partner. 

Over the past two years, Deon has remained sober and is fully committed to making his life count. He would like to evolve his skills in the field of education and out-reach and use his own experiences to help others who find themselves in similar situations.

Addiction is a disease which affects people of all classes, races and cultures and one which can be healed, with the right motivation and support. 

I plan to run the length of our Ardanmurchan peninsula.

It is a  distance of 44 miles, starting in Ardgour and finishing in Kilchoan, in time for breakfast.

I will be running over-night on the 21st of June, 2019 and hope to be able to complete the journey in 10-12 hours. 
 
So far, I will be running the majority of the route unaccompanied having stashed supplies along the way. 

I love to run but would also like to make it count for something more than my own pleasure. 

I spent many months pondering which charity or group to donate to and found it very difficult to make a decision as there are so many worthy causes. From experience though, offering real and immediate help to individuals who can really benefit, is my preferred method of helping. 

I was introduced to Deon by my friend , Mike Irwin, who has spent many years trying care for and feed the homeless and hungry of Cape Town. The homelessness crisis in Cape Town sees figures of 9,000 or more people on the streets and this figure is ever increasing. You can follow this link to learn more about the work that Mike and other volunteers undertake - www.homelessfriends.org.za

Deon had written a wonderful letter to Mike, detailing his life-story and his current situation. The following link takes you to a page where you can read the letters that were exchanged between us.

I could see that in Deon's case, being able to provide some funds to secure him housing, at least for the short term, would enable him to then make solid inroads into employment.

He has already made good contacts with prospective employers but all of them require an address for their employees. 

Deon also has a medical condition which requires surgery and he has had to postpone the most recent date for the procedure as he did not have secure accommodation in which to recover afterwards. 

I would like to offer any monies that I manage to raise, to Deon, so that he can make a down-payment on suitable accommodation. I believe that by helping Deon in the short-term, it might be possible in the longer term, to help many others.

It is my wish that he finds accommodation and pursues his new found vocation: to work alongside other homeless people and addicts, as a mentor and role-model.

Deon, Mike and I greatly appreciate any donation you may feel able to make, no matter how small and can assure you that every penny will be used to make a real and lasting difference.

This final link will take you Mikes' page, where you can read the letters which exchanged between myself and Deon. 

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